Phalaenopsis plant named &#39;secret messages&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Secret Messages’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; strong leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; large white-colored flowers with variable dark purple-colored dashes and spots radiating from the center of the flower; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Phalaenopsis Plants

Inventor: René Schoone

Filed: Jun. 6, 2020

Ser. No. 62/705,003

Inventor and Applicant/Assignee hereby claims the benefit of thisprovisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SECRET MESSAGES’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR and APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application,Floricultura B.V. of Heemskerk, The Netherlands on Apr. 23, 2020,application number 2020/1107. Foreign priority is not claimed to thisEuropean Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Secret Messages’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Nantou, Taiwan and Heemskerk, TheNetherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop newfast-growing and freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leafshape and large flowers with unique and attractive patterns andcoloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination in June,2011 in Nantou, Taiwan of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Chiada Laura’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with Phalaenopsis hybrida‘Lawrence of Arabia’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment inHeemskerk, The Netherlands in June, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristempropagation in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlandssince June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this newPhalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Secret Messages’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Secret Messages’ as a newand distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Strong flowering stems.    -   4. Strong leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per        plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.    -   6. Large white-colored flowers with variable dark purple-colored        dashes and spots radiating from the center of the flower.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Chiada Laura’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Chiada Laura’ in flower color as plants of the newPhalaenopsis have white-colored flowers with dark purple-colored dashesand spots radiating from the center of the flower whereas plants of‘Chiada Laura’ have yellow-colored flowers without spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differprimarily from plants of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ in flower color as plantsof the new Phalaenopsis have white-colored flowers with darkpurple-colored dashes and spots radiating from the center of the flowerwhereas plants of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ have yellow-colored flowers withmore spots than plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsishybrida ‘Tropic Ocelot’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘TropicOcelot’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsishave fewer spots than flowers of plants of ‘Tropic Ocelot’. In addition,petals of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are incurved whereas petals ofplants of ‘Tropic Ocelot’ are recurved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Secret Messages’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Secret Messages’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsisproduction. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs anddescription were taken. During the first twelve months of production ofthe plants, day and night temperatures averaged 27° C. During the finalsix months of production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20°C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. Duringthe 18 months of production, light levels ranged from a minimum of 5,000lux to a maximum of 10,000 lux. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Secret Messages’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Chiada Laura’, not            patented.        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks            at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to            30° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically grey to green in            color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Low amount of branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright            plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,            each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;            moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate            growth rate.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About            11.8 cm.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of            inflorescences.—About 53.9 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 35.1 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about            six leaves per plant.        -   Length.—About 23 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly arching.        -   Shape.—Narrowly obovate; slightly concave and moderately            carinate.        -   Apex.—Unequal broadly acute.        -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: About 1.9 cm. Sheath width:            About 1.4 cm. Sheath color: Close to 144A.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; slightly to moderately glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            NN137A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between            NN137A and 147A; venation, close to NN137A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Slightly darker than between 143A and            146A; venation, close to 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers            arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two            inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about ten            flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences            supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals,            two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a            labellum and three sepals.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about six months            after planting; plants flower naturally during the winter            into the spring.        -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers            maintain good substance for about four weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence            apex).—About 27.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 14.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm by            1.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 145A; towards            the apex, close to 152D and slightly tinged with close to            N77B; venation, close to 200A.        -   Flower size.—Large, about 8.2 cm (vertical) by 9.1 cm            (horizontal).        -   Flower depth.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals            and one center petal transformed into a labellum.        -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Width: About 5.7 cm.            Shape: Lunate to reniform. Apex: Shallowly retuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to NN155C with variable dashes and spots,            close to 59A and 187C to darker than 187C, radiating from            the center of the flower; towards the base, close to 59A to            darker than 59A. When opening, lower surface: Close to            NN155C; variable dashes and spots from the upper surface            visible, close to N77D to lighter than N77D. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to NN155D with variable dashes and            spots, close to 59A, N79C and 187C to slightly darker than            187C, radiating from the center of the flower; towards the            base, close to between 59A and N79C; color does not change            with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to NN155D; variable dashes and spots from the upper            surface visible, close to N77D to lighter than N77D; color            does not change with subsequent development.        -   Labella.—Appearance: Three-parted with two lateral lobes and            a central lobe. Length, lateral lobes: About 2 cm. Width,            lateral lobes: About 1.5 cm. Length, central lobe: About            3.6 cm. Width, central lobe: About 8 mm to 23 mm. Shape,            lateral lobes: Obovate. Shape, central lobe: Deltoid. Apex,            lateral lobes: Retuse. Apex, central lobe: Cleft with two            narrow and strongly recurved cirrose tips, about 1.1 cm in            length and about 1.3 mm in width. Margins, lateral lobes:            Entire; slightly undulate. Margins, central lobe: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at            the base of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral            petals; about 5 mm in length, about 5 mm in width and about            7 mm in height. Color: When opening, upper surface: Lateral            lobes: Close to NN155D; lower half, close to 154B; large            central blotch, close to 187B to 187C; venation, distally,            close to N80B. Central lobe: Ground color, close to 155B;            upper half, close to 160A to 160B; lower half, close to 76C            with stripes, close to NN74B to NN74C; at the base (at            column connection), close to 187B; cirrose tips, close to            155B with dots, close to 59A. Callosities: Close to 200A;            towards the base, close to 2D. When opening, lower surface:            Lateral lobes: Close to 76C; central blotch visible from            upper surface, close to 201D; lower half, close to 154B;            towards the base, close to NN155C; towards the margins,            close to 185D. Central lobe: Close to N155A; upper half,            close to between 154B and 160C; towards the margins, close            to 60C to 60D and at the edges, close to 59A; cirrose tips,            close to 155B with dots, close to 59A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; lower half, close            to 2A; large central blotch, close to 187C; venation,            distally, close to N80B. Central lobe: Ground color, close            to 155B; upper half, close to 160C; lower half with stripes,            close to NN74B to NN74C; at the base (at column connection),            close to 187B; cirrose tips, close to 155B with dots, close            to 59A. Callosities: Close to 200A; towards the base, close            to 2D. Fully opened, lower surface: Lateral lobes: Close to            76C; central blotch visible from upper surface, close to            201D; lower half, close to 154B; towards the base, close to            NN155C; towards the margins, close to 185D. Central lobe:            Close to N155A; upper half, close to between 154B and 160C;            towards the margins, close to 60C to 60D and at the edges,            close to 59A; cirrose tips, close to 155B with dots, close            to 59A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, one upper dorsal            sepal and two lower lateral sepals. Length, dorsal sepal:            About 4.5 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 3.5 cm. Length,            lateral sepals: About 4.6 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About            3.2 cm. Shape, dorsal sepal: Broadly elliptic to slightly            obovate. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Apex, dorsal sepal:            Obtuse. Apex, lateral sepals: Bluntly acute. Base, dorsal            and lateral sepals: Cuneate. Margin, dorsal and lateral            sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, dorsal and lateral            sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;            matte. Color, dorsal sepal: When opening, upper surface:            Close to NN155D with variable dashes and spots, close to 59A            and 187C to darker than 187C, radiating from the center of            the flower; towards the base, close to N78A. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 156C; towards the margins and apex,            close to 157D; variable dashes and spots from the upper            surface visible, close to N77D to lighter than N77D. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D with variable dashes            and spots, close to 59A, N79C and 187C to slightly darker            than 187C, radiating from the center of the flower; towards            the base, close to between 59A and N79C; color does not            change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 76C and 76D to lighter than 76D; towards            the margins and apex, close to NN155A; towards the base,            close to 155C: variable dashes and spots from the upper            surface visible, close to NN77B to N77D to lighter than            N77D; color does not change with subsequent development.            Color, lateral sepals: When opening, upper surface: Close to            155C; towards the margins and base, close to 157D; variable            dashes and spots, close to 59A and 187C to darker than 187C,            radiating from the center of the flower; towards the base,            close to 59A to darker than 59A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 157A; towards the margins and apex, close            to 157D; towards the base, close to 195A; variable dashes            and spots from the upper surface visible, close to N77B to            N77D to lighter than N77D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to NN155D with variable dashes and spots, close to            59A, N79C and 187C to slightly darker than 187C, radiating            from the center of the flower; towards the base, close to            between 59A and N79C; color does not change with subsequent            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 76C to            76D; towards the margins and apex, close to NN155A; towards            the base, close to 195B: variable dashes and spots from the            upper surface visible, close to NN77B to N77D to lighter            than N77D; color does not change with subsequent            development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 55.1 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly arching.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Darker            than between 147A and 197A; proximally, close to between            147A and 202A; fine dots, close to 143A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 65° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            Close to 145B; distally, close to N155B and proximally,            close to 146D tinged with close to N77B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 9 mm.            Column width: About 6 mm. Column color: Close to 77B;            distally, close to N155A. Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia            diameter (per two pollinia): About 3 mm. Pollinia color:            Close to 17A to 17B. Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3.5 mm.            Stigma width: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma            color: Close to N155A with margins, close to 77A to 77B.            Ovary length: About 8 mm. Ovary diameter: About 1 cm. Ovary            color: Close to 145A. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and            fruit development have not been observed on plants of the            new Phalaenopsis.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis    have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15° to about    40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘SecretMessages’ as illustrated and described.